Processed and sealed. Jars that were filled and processed according to a tested recipe, and whose lids sealed, keep in a cool, dark, dry cupboard. Tested sources generally recommend using home-canned foods within a year for best quality.1 Check the seal before opening; a lid that flexes or pops was not sealed.
Unprocessed refrigerator jam. Jam that was jarred hot and not processed lives in the refrigerator from the start. We use ours within about a month.
Once opened. Any jar, processed or not, goes into the refrigerator once opened. Use a clean spoon each time; crumbs and butter in the jar shorten its life. Discard at any sign of mould, fermentation or off smell.
Freezing. Fig jam freezes well in freezer-safe containers with headspace, and thaws in the refrigerator.
Sources
- National Center for Home Food Preservation , University of Georgia . Accessed September 7, 2026.